The proposed bill would update current statutes by mandating the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to conduct a special audit on the financial resources allocated to programs and services for individuals experiencing homelessness in Arizona. This audit would encompass various expenditures, including those by the state, municipalities and counties with higher-than-average homeless populations, federal funds for homeless programs, and costs incurred by law enforcement agencies related to homelessness. Additionally, the bill requires all state and local government entities to cooperate with the audit by providing access to necessary financial records at no cost.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that the special audit must evaluate the awarding of contracts and grants for homeless services, metrics for assessing expenditure success, the efficiency of data management systems, and the costs associated with services provided to each individual experiencing homelessness. The OAG is required to submit the audit report to key state officials by December 31, 2026, and the bill includes an appropriation of $1,250,000 from the Housing Trust Fund to fund the audit, which is exempt from lapsing. The legislation is set to be repealed on July 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-2405